JCP Shii criticizes calls for military response to North Korea's nuclear test

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JCP Shii criticizes calls for military response to North Korea's nuclear test

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a press conference on October 12 explained the JCP position on North Korea's proclaimed nuclear test and answered reporters' questions as follows:

Shii: The JCP in a published statement severely criticized North Korea's nuclear test and emphasized the importance of maintaining two points as essential in dealing with the issue.

One is the need for unanimity in the international community's response to the issue. The other is the importance of seeking to resolve the issue by peaceful and diplomatic means.

We have called on the government to recognize the importance of these two principles and took part in the Diet resolutions from this point of view.

Responding to our questions in the Budget Committee meetings of both houses, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo stated that he shares these two principles with the JCP. We think it very important that he made this remark.

In the discussions of draft resolutions in both houses of the Diet, the JCP proposed amending the draft to include these two points and in the end, both houses resolutions made clear that "the international community is called upon to carry out diplomatic efforts in seeking in unity to achieve its peaceful resolution."

I think it is very important to note that the parliamentary resolutions and the government response incorporated and confirmed these basic principles. The JCP will continue to work to have the government and the Diet maintain these principles.

Questions and Shii's answers

Q: Can you comment on the government decision of October 11 to enforce additional sanctions and measures against North Korea?

Shii: In view of the two principles that I referred to, it is possible that the government take its own diplomatic measures.

We believe that such diplomatic measures must be enforced through close consultation and cooperation with countries concerned, in particular neighboring countries.

Q: Some government officials and ruling party politicians are arguing that the present affair should be recognized as an emergency "situation in areas surrounding Japan."

Shii: It is totally impossible and unacceptable to define the recent developments as "situations in areas surrounding Japan" as if to legitimate preparations for confrontation. What an absurd statement it is!

The JCP is demanding that the Law to Deal with Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan be revoked. The law's definition of "situations in areas surrounding Japan" is that Japan could come under attack if nothing is done to deal with the present situation. But even in the light of this law, it is impossible to determine what is taking place at present as a "situation surrounding Japan". This is why it is wrong to rush to take military measures by regarding the present situation as a "situation surrounding Japan" as defined by the law.

There is an argument urging Japan to take steps to be able to exercise the right of collective self-defense. We strongly oppose any move to take advantage of North Korea's nuclear test as an opportunity to promote constitutional revision.

It is unpardonable that North Korea has resorted to a military escalation with a nuclear test. It is equally wrong to call for Japan to respond militarily because such an action will only help escalate military confrontation, making the situation worse. The task is for Japan to make efforts to achieve a peaceful and diplomatic solution.
-Akahata, October 13, 2006